Senior Parent Initiative
As Laurentian parents you believe in the promise of something greater, the connection between opportunity and outcome for your student and every student at St. Lawrence. That’s why it has become a tradition at St. Lawrence to ask every senior parent to contribute to the Senior Parent Initiative (SPI). This annual fundraising campaign encourages parents of seniors to honor their students’ St. Lawrence experience by making a gift towards one of the University's top priorities.
What is the SPI? It's a fundraising campaign that encourages parents of seniors to honor their students' St. Lawrence experience by making a gift towards one of the University's top priorities.
What will this year's SPI support? This year, SPI Chairs Drew and Sarah Quigley P’23 are pleased to announce that SPI contributions will support the St. Lawrence Center for Career Excellence.
Why the Center for Career Excellence?
This Center plays a vital role in our students’ post-graduate success. The Center’s staff connects our students to experts who further their professional development. That includes career coaches, alumni, parent mentors, and faculty. The Center is also home to immersive programs that give our students more information about the careers that interest them and the confidence to pursue and shape the future they envision. This is the work—and this is how students make the Laurentian connections—that often result in internships and other opportunities that launch successful and meaningful careers.
How will my support of the SPI impact
St. Lawrence?
By giving to the SPI this year, you will help strengthen the St. Lawrence professional network—recognized for years, including this year, by the Princeton Review as one of the best in the nation. This network plays an essential role in our students’ placement rates in the careers, graduate schools, and service programs that interest them. Combined, the Center, its professional development and career exploration programs, and our parent and alumni network empower students to pursue their passions and build lives of purpose. Support for the Center for Career Excellence is a University priority identified by President Kathryn Morris as part of her strategic framework for this year’s seniors and the future of St. Lawrence.
Our fundraising goal for the Senior Parent Initiative is $250,000.
Meeting this goal will have a meaningful impact on St. Lawrence, the Center for Career Excellence, and most importantly students. These funds will fuel the University’s signature career programs, like SLU Connect and Laurentians Investing in Networking and Careers (LINC). Your giving will also support online resources such as Handshake, CareerShift, Focus2, and other portals. Students use these tools and resources to schedule their time as professionals, learn about workshops, networking and career opportunities, and to complete virtual internships around the world.
An important note: Your contributions to the Senior Parent Initiative will provide critical internship funding for students who demonstrate great promise but cannot afford to participate in these career-building opportunities.
Here are some examples of student internships and where their work made an impact:
Morgan Cleary ’23, with funding from the Daniel L. Brindisi '89 and Cynthia Brindisi 'P19 Internship Fellowship, interned with the Integrated Center for Child Development offices in New England, gaining insight on diagnosing and treating developmental disorders in young children.
“Without this generous grant, I couldn’t have accepted this opportunity. I am deeply grateful and hope this grant program continues and its impacts won’t go unnoticed.”
Learn more about Morgan's internship by clicking this link.
Valeria Obregon Diaz ’24 received funding from the Kettering Family Foundation Internship Fellowship and interned with the Tijuana River National Estuary Research Reserve.
“It was an enriching experience that confirmed my intent to work in non-profits, especially in areas like the binational watershed spanning San Diego and Tijuana.”
Learn more about Valeria's internship by clicking this link.
Daniel Calbo ’22, using funds from the Michael W. and Pamela Van Hoven Clark Career Planning Fund, interned as a college financial representative with Northwestern Mutual.
“I will be able to use much of what I learned during this experience to help further my career and build a strong network of connections and relationships.”
Learn more about Daniel's internship by clicking this link.
Abigail Yosef ’22, with funding from the Stewart’s Shops and Dake Family Internship Fellowship Fund, was a summer finance intern with ZEP-RE in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
“I learned professionalism and mannerisms that are different in this international setting, but applicable wherever my career takes me.”
Learn more about Abigail's internship by clicking this link.
How much should I give? It's entirely up to you. Every gift counts. The power is in the act of sharing and St. Lawrence is strongest when all senior parents value and support this initiative.
What is the most convenient way to make my gift? Give online by selecting Senior Parent Initiative: Center for Career Excellence from the designation drop down box. Gifts should be submitted by June 30.
What if I prefer to mail a check? Please make your check payable to St. Lawrence University, write SPI on the memo line and include the name of your student. The mailing address is:
Senior Parent Initiative
Parent Leadership Giving
St. Lawrence University
23 Romoda Drive
Canton, NY 13617